Bicycle pedal



sept. 3 0, 1924. 1,509,834

J. H. GRAHAM BICYCLE PEDAL Filed May 24 1922 l 24 INVENTOR.

3' .famesfffa/zaf/L A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,509,834 PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. GRAHAM, OF TORRINGI'ON, CONNECTCT, ASSIGNOR TO J. H. GRAHAM COMPANY, 0F TORRTNGTDN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT;

BICYCLE PED-AL.

Application led. May 24,

To all wlw/m, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES H. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Torrington, county of Litcheld, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle Pedals, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to bicycles, and more particularly to an improved form of pedal having a tread of rubber or similar material.

One object of this invention is to provide a pedal having an improved form of treadmounting.

A further object isto provide a pedal in which the rubber tread members may be readily removed withoutdisturbing the adjustment of the pedal upon the crank rod.

A further object is tol provide an improved form oi dust-cap and mounting.

A further ob 'ect is to provide an improved construction of the central pedal sleeve which may be made at less expense, and which will have greater rigidity and strength than in former pedals.

Withv these and other objectsV in view, there have been illustrated on the accompanying drawings two forms in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

Fig. 1 represents a view of one end of a pedal embodying the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the pedal taken along the line 2 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is an end view oi the other endV oi the pedal.

Fig. 4! is a sectional view of the cone brace member and dust-cap taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction ot the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partly broken f away, of a modified former1 tread rod.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view on a reduced scale of the cone end of the axle, showing the washer in detached position. l

In former types of pedals Yhaving treads oi rubber or similar material, it has been customary to mount'the treads upon bolts having heads upon onefend and nuts upon the other, or upon bolts having nuts on both lends. In both of these types of pedal, the bolts passed through the brace members at 1922. serial No. 563,401.

the ends of the pedal, and when it was desired to replace a tread, it was necessary to slide the entire bolt longitudinally out of the brace members in order to release the tread from the pedal. Y Y

Moreover, in such former types of pedals, when it was desired to remove the dust cap, it was necessary to first remove the nuts from the ends of the tread-holding bolts, `which operation was quite apt to disturb the adjustment of the treads..

By means of the present invention, the above and other disadvantages havebeen largely if not entirely avoided. This has been accomplished by mounting' the treads on rods which extend only to the inside faces of the brace members against whichl they are held by screw bolts. By means of this construction, it is now possible to replace the treads merely by moving the tread rods transversely tothe brace members before slipping cli the treads.

Dust caps have been provided upon both ends ot the pedal and have been so arranged that they may be removed independently of the tread members and without in any way disturbing the adjustment of said tread members. The bearing of the pedal is made still further dust-proof and the brace members are stiffened by providing an elongated form of central sleeve which extends the full distance between the brace members and entirely covers the ball cups.

Referring now tothe drawingsin which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1() represents the pedal pin which is provided with a reduced threaded section 11 on its cone end, and a slightlyenlarged threaded section 12 upon its stud end. `The threaded section 12 has a slot 13 formed in its end for engagement with a screw-driver or other suitable tool for convenience in manipulation. The threaded section 12 is adapted to be screwed into the bicycle crank, not shown. Adjacent the threaded section 12, the pin 10 is provided with an enlarged cylindrical portion 14 having a pair of parallel longitudinal fiat faces 15v and 16 formed thereon.

Between the enlarged cylindrical portion 1a'- and the central cylindrical portion, the pin has an annular curved ball-bearing track 1'? adapted to engage one side of a series of balls 18.v The opposite sides of the balls 18a-re held in place by a ball cup .19. theV sidesa'nd base ot' which fit over the cylindrical portion of the enlarged section 14 and the central portion of the pin respe'ctively. A Harige 19a is formed on the rim of the ball ciip 19,* forming a shoulder which seats upon the edge o't a central apere ture in a brace member 20.

A cone member 21 is adjustably threaded on the outer reduced threaded end ll ot the pin 10. This Acone member 21 comprises a short cylindrical section 2la and an inwardly tapered balbbearing' section 22. The cone member 2l is held securely in adjusted position by means of a nut 23 and a D-washer 24, the latter being' nonrotatively mounted on a Hattened section 24.a ot the stud end ot' the aile. The cone member 2l. is adapted to engage a series of balls 25 seated in a: ball cup 26 ot identical construction with the ball cup 19 previously described.

' For strengthening the construction. and to make the pedal more dust-proof, a central tube 27 is provided, surrounding the pin and seated on the `outside ot the ball cups 19' and 26.l j

The central tube 27 which is preferably cylindrical and constructed by bendingfrom a strip ot sheet steel. may if desired. extend the entire distance from the Yinner ledge ot the stud brace member 20 to the .inner edge of a cone brace member 28.

The pedal is provided with a pair of dust-caps 29 and `550 at the stud end and conerendof the pinV respectively. Each dust-cap 29 and '30 is` preferably formed in theshape ot av sec-tion ot a hollow sphere and has side fla-t projecting' portions 3l. 82. The fla-t projecting` portions R2 are adapted to be secured to the brace members 2O and 28 by means of rivets 32 on tbe portions 32, while the other fiat projecting; portion 3l mayv be provided with a stud Sllwhich is adapted to snap into a. suitliole in the braeemember. lf desired. screws or screw bolts may he substituted torthe rivets 31a and studs 321. rPhe dustcap is apertured at its center so that it may tit-aboutfthe cylindrical portion 14.- at the stud end ot' the piu.

Tread rods 33', are provided at both sides ot the pin. and extend the entire distance .between the brace members 20 and 28. Each of the tread rods 33 hollow throughout its length and provided with interior threaded sections 33 and 33h at the cone end and stird end respectively Vtor receiving the ends of threaded rod screws and 34. The hollow construction ot the tread rods permits the use ot screws of various lengths. and permits the turning upof the screws to variousextents for compensating for any inequalities in the lntertittingl parts. The screws 34 and 35 are provided with hea-ds and 37 located outside the brace members 20 and 2S. and seated on loch-washers 38 and 39.

ln Fig. 5, a modified torni ot solid tread rod 39a is illustrated. rIhis torni of rod is solid througlmut its length except tor its ends which are tapped with threads to receive the screws 234 and 35 exactly as in the irst described type ol' tread rod.

Surrounding each of the tread rods il?, is a tread member 40 rectangular in shape. having truste-conical ends and a series of longitudinal anti-slip `grooves in cach face thereof. The tread members are preferably made from rubber composition` but it will be understood that any other suitable material may be employed.

Yln operation. when it is desired to install a new tread on one side of the pedal. the screws 34 and will first be removed. The tread rod Sil may then be moved transversely ont trom its position `lit-)tween the brace members 20 and 2S. The tread -lll may then be readily slipped ofi` the rod 32% and a new tread slipped on in its place. To replace thc rod and new tread. it will then only be necessary to reverse` the steps just described.

lllhen it. is desired to take apart the cntire pedal for cleaninglr and oilingr. all of the rod screws let and 35 will first be removed. Next, the dust cap at the cone cud ot' the pedal will be taken off. rI`h nut 211 and cone member 2l will then be unscrewcd and removed troni the pin. rThe. parts of the device may then be readily separated from one another. To assemble the pedal. the operations just described will be rcversed.

lVhen il is merely desired to oil the pedal. it will only le necessary to litt the stud ou the dustwap at the conc cud and swingt the dust-cap to one side. .v\ suitable lubricant may then be introduced.

lllhilc there have been disclosed in this specification two iorms in which the in vention may bc embodied. it is to be understood that these 'Forms are shown tor thc purpose ot illustration only. and that the. invention is not to be limited to the specific disclosures but may be modified and cmbodied in various other forms without doiarting from its spirit. ln short. the iii-- vention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming' within the scope ot the following claims.

llavinp' thus Vlully described thc iuveu` tion. what is claimed as new. and tor which itis desired to secure Tiettcrs Pla-tent. is:

l. Tn a bicycle pedal` a pin adapted to be secured to a bicycle crank. a. pair of ball cups ou said pin havingr upturned flanges on the outer ends. a plurality of balls in each ot said cups. a pair ot brace members mounted ou the outer ends ot said cups against the tlanges7 and a separate tube surrounding said pin and said ball cupsl said tube being of uniform i diameter to provide an uninterrupted inner wall :tor receiving said ball cups and permitting firm seating et the flanges thereof said braces and the firm seating' ot the brace against the ends ot the tube,

2. ln a bicycle pedal. a pin adapted to be secured to a bicycle crank. a pair of l race members rotatably mounted on said piu7 a pair ot tread rods supported on said brace members and slidably disposed therebetween, each tread rod having a tubular tread mounted thereon` screws passing inwardly through said brace members and littinfr in the opposite ends of said tread rods to retain the same 'from lateral displacement and secure 4the rods to the brace members and support the rods on the brace members, said screws being removable outwardly trom said brace members for treeingI the treadfcarrying rods and permitting the sliding' ot the same laterally from between the brace members without disturbing; said brace members.

ln a. bicycle pedal. a pin adapted to be secured to a bicycle cranlr. a pair ot brace members rotatably mounted on said pin, a pair oi treacl-carryingrods supported on said brace members and laterally slidable therebetweeny detachable tubular treads surrounding said tread-cai/'ryintr rods, and means adapted to be manipulated from ontside said brace members tor detachably securing'said tread rods in position, whereby said treads may be removed from said tread rods without disturbing said brace members.

4t. In a bicycle pedal, a pin adapted to be secured to a` bicycle crank, a pair of brace members rotatably mounted on said pin7 a pair ot hollow tread-carrying rods supported on said brace members said rods baring interior screw threads at their extremities screws passingf through said brace members for engaging; with said crew threads, and detachable tubular treads on said tread-carryingrods, said screws being outwardly removable to permit said treads and tread rods to be slid outwardly radially `from said pin without disturbing' said brace members.

5. In a bicycle pedal. a pin adapted to be secured to a bicycle crank. a pair oi brace members rotatably mounted on said pin4` a pair oi tread rods carried by said brace members. tubular tread members fitted on said rods andslidable radially outwardly troni the r Xis ot said pin7 tbe opposite ends ot said tread rods having interior threads and screws passingr inwardly through said brace members and engaging said threads. said screws being detachable outwardly to permit removal of said tread rods and treads without disturbing; said brace members.

6. In a bicycle pedal, a pin adapted to be secured to a. bicycle crank, a pair ot brace menibers rotatably mounted on said pin., a pair ot tread rods located between said brace.- members tubular tread members on said tread rods. and outwardly detachable se passing through said brace members and engaging the extremities of said rods tor supporting said treads and tread rods, said treads and tread rods being removable radially outwardly when said screws are detached without disturbing said brace members.

'i'. In a bicycle pedal, a pin adapted to bc secured to a bicycle crank, a pair of brace members rotatably mounted on said pin, a pair ot tread rods located entirely between said brace members tubular tread members slidably and rotatably litted on said tread rods, means passingthrough said brace .members and engagingsaid tread rods for securing' said rods and tread members in position7 said securing means being remov-V able outwardly in a direction perpendicular' to the plane of said brace members to permit said tread members and tread rods to be slid out from between said brace members in a radial direction trom tbe axis ot said pin.

8. lin a bicycle pedal, a pin adapted to be secured to a bicycle crankj a pair ot treadholding;v brace members rotatably mounted on said pinT a pair ot ball cups on said pin havingflanges on their outer ends. said r anges beine; seated against said brace members` and a separate tube surrounding said pin and said ball cups, the ends ot said tube beine` cylindrical and lirmly seated against said brace members.

9. In a bicycle pedal. a pin adapted to be secured to bicycle crank, a pair of ball cups on said pin having npturned flanges at their Vouter ends. a plurality ot ball bearinns in said cups tor engaging said pin. a pair oiI brace members mounted on said ball cups and firmly seated against said Hannes. and a dust-protectinnj and stiii'ening tube surrounding said pin, the ends oi. said tube abutting; against the inside oi said brace members and liittingr snugly over said ball cups said tube being disconnected from said brace members.

l0. ln a bicycle pedal. a. pin adapted to be secured to a bicycle crank. a pair oi ball cups on said `nin a plurality oi ball bearings in said cups For engagingP said pin a pair of brace members mounted on the outer ends ol said ball cups.v and a dust-protectingand stiftening tube surrounding said pin. the ends ot said tube abutting against the inside surfaces ot said brace members and littin;i over said ball cups, said tube and said brace members being constructed of sepa-rate pieces.

11. ln a bicvcle pedal` a nin adapted to be secured to a bicycle crank. a nair oiZ ball cups on said pin7 a plurality of balls in said @up for bearing against said pin, a pair of side fzloes of said tread-holding members, Het tread-holding members mounted on the said tread-holding members being located in outer ends oi said ball cups, and a dustplanes between the tracks of said balls and 10 pi'oteeting and stiiiening tube surrounding the ends of said pin.

said pin and seid ball Cups, said tube being in testimony whereof, 1 have aiixed my formed in a. separate piece from said treadsignature to this speeiiication.

holding members and terminating at the in- JAMES H GRAHAM. 

